Popgun



Aug. 19, 1947. E. R. CONKLIN 2,425,866

POPGUN Filed June 5, 1944 W/fl 30 EdtQol dR nm m KWLL Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POPGUN Edward R. Conklin, Wauseon, Ohio Application June 5, 1944, Serial No. 538,813

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to noise-making devices, more especially for juveniles.

This invention has utility when incorporated in a multiple discharge or swivel barrel poppistol.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention in a toy pistol, at the pop position therefor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pistol of Fig. l, with the ram-rod withdrawn, and the barrel at half swing back for the reloading reverse position, parts being in section;

Fig. 3 is a view on the line III-III, Fig. 2, showing the wedge seat for aligning the barrel major section with the ram rod carrying breech section; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view, with parts broken away, of the valve reciprocable in the pistol barrel major section as actuated by the ram-rod. V

A grip i has a downwardly-arched, slightly yieldable or spring-providing forward extension 2 to a seat 3, upwardly thru which extends a pivot pin a Med with complementary seat 5, snugly resting upon the seat 3. The seat 5 is the lower face of a boss 6 from a major barrel section 1.

The barrel section I is of polygonal exterior form in providing a wedge-corner 8 along its lower side and a similar central sight-line 9 along its top extent. Concentrically oi the barrel section l is a passage or bore ID, with slightly tapered enlargement end portions H to the respective ends l2, 53, of the section I. A flexible line or cord M may have a tie or attaching portion it with the extension 2 as an automatic retrieving means for a compressible stopper or cork It as the missile to be projected in a limited range.

The device of this disclosure may be nonmetallic in its general elements. It is susceptible of economical production from wood, especially from properly jigged equipment. With such production basis, the seat 3, extension 2 and grip I, may have integral therewith a breech or minor barrel section ll of similar exterior general polygonal shape to the section '6. There is thus provided sight-line edge I8 to align with the edge ii. Forwardly from the barrel section I! and from the lower vicinity is an extension I!) having wedge or cam-forming faces 2!! on its upper portion to a central V-shaped seat 2! to center with and hold the barrel section I! as its lower edge 8 rides over the face 20 in swinging on the pivot bearing 4. A slight yield or spring action of the section 2 holds the section I in 2 alignment with the section !1, as the edge 8 comes into the seat 2!.

The section I! has concentric therewith, and in alignment with the bore in of the barrel section l, a bore 22, desirably of slightly less diameter than the bore 16. However, adjacent the barrel l end 92, or It, as may be thereagainst, the section H has in alignment with its bore 22 a short enlarged diameter region 23, to a shoulder 24.

Before the assembly of the barrel section 1 on the pivot l, a ram-rod 25 may be inserted thru the opening surrounded by the shoulder 24 thru the region 23 into the bore 22 of the section [1. A terminal enlargement 2K5 on the rod 25 may lodge against the shoulder 24 with the rod fully retracted from the barrel section 1, thus leaving suiiicient clearance for the repeat functioning of the toy, by swinging the barrel between each pop operation. Upon the end of the rod 25 as protruding from-the section ll away from the section I, there may be anchored by adhesive or other means, a knob or enlargement 21, adapted to be struck in effecting the pop discharge of the pistol. The diameter of the enlargement 26 of the rod 25 is such as readily to enter the terminal enlargement II as toward the section ll. Furthermore, the enlargement 26 is of less diameter than the bore H].

The ram-rod 25 is of such over-all length as to the barrel section I, that as the knob 21 has its shoulder 28 abut end face 29 of the section ill, the enlargement 25 is short of extending to the remote tapered portion H of the section I. In this clearance region is located the effective valve device comprising a pair of short cylindrical elements 38 spaced by a centrally perforate leather disk 3i, all centered and held in rigid assembly by a dowel pin 32 concentrically therethru and adhesive anchored. The respective dowel-carrying ends of this valve unit have such ends 33 impacted by the rod portion 26. While the valve portions or elements 30 are of slightly less diameter than the bore ll] of the section I, the overall or full diameter of the leather washer or valve element 3| is slightly in excess of. the diameter of the bore It. This means that there is a slight compression of the leather SI, and it serves, in cooperation with the compressible missile 15 as an effective holding means for compressed air to such an extent upon sudden impacting of the knob 21 that there results a resounding pop upon the escape of the missile l6.

Reloading is quickly and simpl efiected. The operator withdraws the ram-rod 25 to have its enlargement 26 strike the shoulder 24. The barrel section 1 is thereby released for swinging its end I 3 oh the seat 2|, and in the full 180 turning or half-rotation, to snap the end 12 into the seat 2|. In this swinging operation to reverse the direction of the barrel section 1, the valve device from its position remote from the section I1, is now brought into proximity thereto. With such end 13 away from the section 17, the missile I6 is snugly inserted thereinto, and the knob 27 may be given a quick blow in eifecting a repetition of the explosion simulating pop action of this toy pistol. There is accordingly herein provided an article for child entertainment, attractive in its getup, and non-hazardous in the prescribed handling thereof.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pop gun comprising a grip with a forward extension, there being a minor barrel section fixed 2 with the grip and terminating adjacent a seat portion toward the extension, a major barrel section medially of its length pivotally mounted on the extension for either end thereof to be swung into said seat portion thereby to align the bores of the respective barrel sections, said minor barrel section having an annular seat therein open toward and in alignment with the major barrel section, and a ramrod extending thru the minor barrel section and having at its end an enlargement adapted to be retracted into said seat to be clear of the major barrel section swinging.

2. A pop gun comprising a grip fixed barrel section, a forward end-for-end-sWingably-mounted barrel section, there being a seat adjacent the fixed barrel section having lock engagement with an end of the swingable barrel section to hold the bores 0f the barrel sections aligned, and a ramrod terminally anchored for limited reciprocation as to the fixed barrel section and retractable thereinto clear of the swingable barrel section.

EDWARD R. CONKLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 233,613 Gilman Oct. 26, 1880 399,882 Graydon Mar. 19, 1889 652,786 Korn July 3, 1900 964,810 Rieger July 19, 1910 1,838,999 Mihalyi Dec. 29, 1931 2,355,809 Lefever Aug. 15, 1944 43,259 Perry June 21, 1864 102,434 Renwick Apr. 26, 1870 63,605 Ballard Apr. 9, 1867 1,196,035 Semple Aug. 29, 1916 32,561 Spofiord-Rafiington Sept. 29, 1868 183,124 Butterweck Oct. 10, 1876 1,852,401 DeCamps Apr. 5, 1932 2,026,898 Jenswold et al Jan. 7, 1935 

